Setting up a living room without a sofa – 20 ideas and seating alternatives

For many people, the sofa is certainly the most important element in the living room. But anyone who moves into a small apartment and wants to do without the bulkiest piece of furniture is usually faced with the same problem: How can you furnish a living room without a sofa? Today we'll show you a few successful examples and ideas for seating alternatives that are just as comfortable and space-saving.

Living room without a sofa is unthinkable? But!

In the living room you want to sit comfortably with family or guests and chat. When it comes to seating, the sofa isn't the only choice. Wing chairs, relaxation chairs, benches, chaise longues and indoor swings are welcomethe cozy get-togetherbe used.

Everyone dreams of a large sofa area, but that is difficult to achieve in a small room. There should be space for a coffee table, TV cabinet and shelves. Visually, a round armchair appears much more airy than a massive sofa.

Instead of having to squeeze uncomfortably onto the sofa in a small room, everyone can sit comfortably in an armchair. Two to four lounge or cocktail chairs can be easily arranged in a circle. Wing chairs with stools are more suitable for a reading corner.

Here is another variant for armchair arrangement. The four large armchairs are placed around a square coffee table. The round side tables offer storage space for two table lamps without blocking the view. Another advantage of this grouping is that eye contact is not lost, as often happens when two people sit next to each other on a sofa.

One-room apartment without a couch

Platform beds with drawers are very popular in one-room apartments. But what if a sofa takes up too much space so that the drawers cannot open and close normally? The solution: set up the living room without a sofa.

Forego the sofa in favor of a large dining area

If you want to divide an open floor plan into different functional areas, you can also consider enlarging the dining area and reducing the living room area. When guests come to visit, they can sit at the dining table.

Recamiére, relaxation loungers and co.

Sit back and relax - you can't just do that on a couch. Chaise lounges, chaise longues and daybeds also offer a cozy place to relax. This furniture cannot be classified as a bed or a sofa, but offers the perfect place to put your feet up.

A room seems a bit unfriendly if you are confronted with the back of a sofa as soon as you enter. So that this visual line is not blocked and the room appears more open, recamiéres and daybeds without backrests are often used.

Recamiéren, loungers and chaise longues can be used in a variety of ways. You can group an armchair with a lounger or place two recamiéres next to each other. Extendable lounges also offer the perfect overnight accommodation for guests.

The right height of the side tables

Side tables are the perfect complement to seating arrangements, but in a living room without a sofa, they play an even more important role. You should plan a storage area next to every seat. Also pay attention to the height of the side tables.

Experiment with a mix of styles

Armchairs, chairs and side tables in the group should not necessarily come from one collection. Ideally, they should be coordinated with the interior style and repeat a few colors from the interior.

Modular seating for the living room without a sofa

Modular seating elements and ottomans offer the functionality sought in small spaces. The modules can be pushed together or divided in different ways and can therefore be adapted to any situation.

Alternatives to seating furniture

Floor mattresses have a boho feel and go well with a Moroccan-inspired living room. Stacked on top of each other creates a sofa.

If you like it relaxed, you can equip your room with a few cool bean bags. They are light and very practical for small rooms. The bean bags are available in different colors and can therefore also fit in a modern living room.

This custom-made window seat not only offers the ideal sofa replacement, but also creates additional storage space that is needed in small apartments anyway. Seat cushions and lots of pillows make this windowsill just as comfortable as the missing sofa.

Such a construction can be planned between two walls. The wooden box becomes the highlight in the room and offers the perfect place for an undisturbed afternoon nap. Built-in drawers under the bench create additional storage space.

Instead of putting your legs on a stool, you can let them dangle loosely from a hanging chair. This makes the living room look much more airy than with an XXL sofa.

Cozy and comfortable, a hanging chair takes up less space than a sofa and provides plenty of indoor rocking fun - provided the blanket is sturdy enough. Materials such as rattan give the hanging chair a natural look.

Hanging chairs are made of robust materials such as rattan or plastic. If you want to bring a retro feel to your living room, you can get a bubble chair. The design comes from Aero Aarnio and was created in the 60s. The transparent acrylic ball allows light to shine through from all directions and looks like a soap bubble floating in the air.